This past year we’ve said farewell to Keeping Up with the Kardashians only to make way for the same show on a different network. However, while E! Network’s version began as a little show diving into the life of Paris Hilton’s friend who just had a scandalous tape leaked, Hulu’s The Kardashians meets Kim and the rest of the family at completely different points in their lives.
I started watching the new show as it premiered and, after years of having the Kardashians in the mainstream media, I can’t help but notice the lack of authenticity in them. In comparison to their original show, it seems like the heart of the show is completely gone (if it ever even existed). But why is that the case?
Outgrown the Need for Reality TV
Well for one, the family is obviously way too famous. Let me explain, KUWTK began when Kim Kardashian started to get a platform and was used as a tool for her rise to stardom. People are often known to become famous after achieving something notable but the Kardashians did the complete opposite: instead, taking advantage of Kim’s 15 minutes of fame, acquiring a reality show to stay in the eye of the media, and building their businesses afterwards. Over the years, the Kardashian family has marketed themselves so well (all thanks to “momager” Kris Jenner) that they have solidified themselves as not only a household name but have also created one of the biggest empires of the 21st century.
That being said, watching The Kardashians revealed that the show is merely a tool to keep them in the public eye in an effort to ensure they are not forgotten so that their businesses can stay up and running. On top of that, it’s just easy money for the family as long as other people are still watching.
Now don’t get me wrong, I am well aware that everything we see in the media is used for a purpose. What makes this show so mediocre is the fact that we’ve seen this all before. Not only is this just the same redundant rich people problems we’ve witnessed on E!’s version, but every storyline they’ve covered has already been heavily publicized in the media.
Take for instance, Kim’s SNL hosting gig. If you don’t know by now, Kim’s SNL appearance kickstarted her relationship with Pete Davidson, which is all that any entertainment news outlet has been able to talk about recently. Now I can bring up the millions of conspiracy theories surrounding the idea that their relationship is just a publicity stunt, but even with all that aside this story is not new! We don’t need a reality show to know what is going on in their lives and even the “behind-the-scenes” look at what the public already knows is for sure going to be skewed in favor of the family, which brings me to my next point:
Lack of Authenticity
Right now you are probably thinking: “What reality tv show is 100% authentic?” I don’t believe there are any. However, you’d receive new material in a show about people whose lives aren’t already extremely public. All the new show has to offer is a “behind-the-scenes” narrative controlled by the family. This brings us to another notable moment from the new show where Kim’s ex-husband Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, retrieved her second sex tape from Ray J, her former boyfriend. Shortly after the episode was broadcasted, Ray J came out denying there was ever a tape in his possession, claiming the family has been putting out pure lies and he wants nothing to do with it.
While this can simply be considered hearsay, this isn’t the first time the Kardashians have been accused of putting out a false narrative. Another claim just adds to the Kardashians’ lack of credibility, invalidating anything they will put out in the upcoming episodes.
All that being said, The Kardashians is just another look into the lives of the most famous family in America. If their social media accounts, websites, and weekly news headlines aren’t enough, this is definitely the show for you. It is possible to enjoy for purely entertainment purposes, but don’t be fooled, while a reality show, this show (along with anything else they may release) is not entirely “reality”.